Burglar-alarm.



No. 707,5I3. Patented Aug. I9, 1902.

H. HowAnn.

sunsLA ALA'mI.-

VAN

NrrFD SrArFS ATFNT OFFICE.'

JAMES H. HOWARD, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD r,ro H. GORDON HARRIS, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

BURCLAR-ALARVIl SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,513, dated August 19, 1902.

Application filed April 1, 1902. Serial No. 100,943. (No model.)

and useful Improvements in B urglar-Alarms,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to burglar-alarms;l

and my object is to produce a device of this character Which is efficient in operation, can

be secured in or removed from position easily I and quickly by an unskilled person, and which embodies the desirable features of simplicity, strength, durability, and cheapness of construction.

hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying draW- ings, in Which- Y Figure 1 is an inner face view of a part of a window sash and casing equipped With a` burglar-alarm embodying myinvention. Fig. 1

2 is a perspective View of the burglar-alarm detached from the Window sash. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of'a door and its casing as provided with a burglar-alarm of a modified form of construction. Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective vieW of a part of a Window-casing and the sashes thereof, and also shows the preferred type of my burglar-alarm for operation in case either sash is moved. Fig. 5 is a modified form of the burglar-alarm shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Where like reference numerals designate corresponding` parts in all the gures, 1 designates a substantially oblong rectangular plate adapted, as hereinafter explained, for attachment to a window sash or door. At one side and end this plate is provided with a socket 2, having diametrically opposite notches and 4. About midway the length of the plate two bearing-lugs 5 project, and journaled therein is a shaft 6. The hammer 7 is pivoted on said shaft and its upper end is of tapered or attenuated form, and near such end it is provided with a head 8, adapted to register with and enter the socket 2 and cxplode a cap to be placed therein when the alarm is set, or some other type of soundingalarm may be substituted for the cap. The i ham mer-head is permitted to penetrate a suf- 5 5 iicient distance into the socket-to effect an explosion, because the shank portion of the hammer at opposite sides of the head enters the notches 3 and 4 for that purpose. y

9 designates a perforated cap concentric- 6o ally surrounding the hammer-head and secured to the hammer by means of a screw or rivet 10, and said cap is provided with a hole 11, through which `the attenuated end of the hammer-shank projects, and with a notch 12, through which said shank extends To these ends the invention further con-1 sists in certain novel andv peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as

at the Opposite side of its head. This cap is of proper diameter `to loosely cover or envelop the socket 2, and thereby prevent any possibility of sparks iying from the socket 7o when the percussion-cap is exploded and perhaps setting ire to the curtains or other draperies.

The means for operating the hammer is a coil-spring 13, mounted upon shaft 6, and se- 7 5 cured at one end,- as at 14, to plate 1, and having its opposite end engaging the hammer and tending to throw the same in the direction'of the socket 2.

For the purpose of holding the hammer 8o cocked when in position for operation I provide several different mechanisms, the preferred form of the same being exemplified in Figs. 1 and 2. The type of burglar-alarm shown in said figures is designed for use chiefly on window-sashes and is intended to operate Without regard to Whether the sash moves up or down. In said form the end of plate 1 opposite from the socket 2 is provided y with a boss 1G, and mounted pivotally on the 9o same, as at 17, is a trigger, the same comprising the V-shaped portion 1S and the barrel or tubular portion 19, containing a frictionblock 20, of rubber or equivalent*material, and adapted to engage the casing of the sash Whenthe pointed end of the V-shaped portion 18 overlaps the attenuated end of the hammer and holds the latter against the resistance of spring 13 at the opposite side oi' shaft 6 from the socket. described and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is Obvious that vertical movement of the Win- When arranged .as roo 1 mission of sound.

In Fig. 4 I show a trigger mechanism for adapting my improved burglar-alarm to use in connection with both sashes of a window, the arrangement being such that downward movement of the upper sash or upward movement of the lower sash effects the release of the hammer and the consequent sounding of the alarm. In this figure 2l. designates a perforated standard secured to the top of the lower sash and provided with a horizontal pivot-pin 22, bridging said perforation and extending parallel with the top rail of said sash. 23 designates a rod extending loosely through the perforation of the standard and mounted pivotally on said pin, so as to have a limited vertical movement thereon. The outer end of said rod is bifureated, and mounted pivotally therein, so as to operate laterally,is a shoe 24, having a rubber or equivalent Sole 25, frictionally engaging the inner side of one of the side rails of the upper sash, the arrangement being such that downward movement of said upper sash depresses the shoecarrying end of said rod, and thereby raises the opposite or front end of the same. From said end depends a plate 26, having a pinand-slot connection, as at 27, with the upper end of plate l, and having its lower end bent to angular form, as at 28, so as to intercept the attenuated end of the hammer, and thus hold the latter cocked when necessary. As above stated, downward movement of the upper sash raises the bent or outer end of rod 23, the result being plate 26 is slid upward and withdrawn from the path of the hammer, which immediately operates in the manner hereinbefore explained. It will be seen that upward movement of the lower sash will be followed by a similar result, because the frictional relation between the shoe-sole and the upper sash will cause plate 26 to be raised and release the hammer before the upward movement of the sash is fairly begun.

In Fig. 3, which shows the alarm as applied to a door and arranged horizontally on the inner face thereof, the trigger mechanism comprises an angle-plate 29, of spring metal and secured by screws 30 to the edge of the door. The plate normally stands with relation to the door as shown by dotted lines in said figure; but when the door is closed the plate is forced flatly against the edge of the door for its entire width, and the short arm of the plate is caused to overlap the hammer,

held cocked by hand at this stage of the proceeding for this purpose. In the initial part of the door-opening movement the angle-plate springs to the position shown in dotted lines, and thus releases the hammer and permits the latter to operate. To prevent `injurious abrasion of the casing by the angle-plate trigger, a second angle-plate 31 is secured rigidly to the casing, as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows the application of the device to the door controlling communication between connecting rooms.v The device is secured to the door near its free edge and differs from that shown in Fig. 3 in that the trigger'mechanism is stationary and the hammer is operated by reason of its being drawn by the moving door away from the trigger. Said trigger is in the form of an angle-plate 32, secured to the door-casing at the side of the door presented to the room occupied. With this type the hammer has to be held cocked by hand until the door is almost completely closed, after which the hammer is held by the stationary trigger 32.

Having explained in detail the operation and functions of the various types of trigger mechanisms, it is believed that further description is unnecessary, and it is to be understood, of course, that slight changes may be made in the form, proportion, detail construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the principle and scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A burglar-alarm, comprising a plate, having a socket near one end, a hammer pivoted to said plate, and provided with a head to enter said socket, a spring for operating said hammer and causing said head to enter said socket, and a foraminous cap carried by the hammer and concentrically surrounding its head and adapted to cover and envelop the socket when the hammer-head is engaged therewith.

2. A burglar-alarm, comprising a plate, having a socket near one end, a hammer pivoted to said plate, and provided with a head to enter said socket, a spring for operating said hammer and causing said head to enter said socket, a foraminous cap carried by the hammer and concentrically surrounding :its head and adapted to cover and envelop the socket when the hammer-head is engaged IOO IIO

IZO

therewith, and a trigger mechanism, normally overlapping and holding the hammer cocked.

3. A burglar-alarm, comprising a plate having a notched socket at one end, a hammer pivoted to said plate and adapted to extend through said notches, and provided with a head to entersaid socket between said notches, a foraminous cap secured to the hammer concentrically of its head and provided with an opening through which one end of the hammer projects and a notch through which the hammer at the opposite side of the head extends; said foraminous cap being adapted to envelop the socket when the hammer oecupies the latter, a spring foroperating the hammer, and a trigger holding the hammer normally cooked.

4. A burglar-alarm, comprising a plate, having a socket near one end, a hammer piv oted to said plate, and provided with a head to enter said socket, a spring for operating said hammer and causing said head to enter Said socket, a foraminous cap carried by the hammer and oonoentrieally surrounding its head and adapted to cover and envelop the socket when the hammer-head is engaged therewith, and a trigger pivoted to the plate and normally holding the hammer Cooked, and provided with a eompressible friction* block.

5. A lmrglar-alarm, comprising a plate, having a socket near one end, a hammer pivoted to said plate, and provided with a head to enter said socket, a spring for operating said hammer and causing said head to enter said socket, a standard movable with one of the windoW-sashes, and a rod pivoted to operate vertically upon said standard, and provided at one end with a friction-shoe engaging the other sash, and at its opposite end with a sliding plate for overlapping and holding the trigger cooked.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES H. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

H. C. Ronenns, G. Y. THoRrn. 

